5. Trailing the Teacher

Chapter 5 Trailing the Teacher A soccer ball shot past Bradley. When he grabbed the ball, he saw some high school kids walking by the school. The tallest kid had another boy on his shoulders. Two of the others were tossing a basketball back and forth. They were pretty big, so Bradley figured they were seniors.

The school bell sounded, and Bradley bounded back to the other kids. He carried the soccer ball and handed it to Ms. Tery. "Thank you, Brian," Ms. Tery said. "I'm Bradley," Bradley said. She grinned. "Who says?" "I have bigger freckles than my brother," Bradley said. Ms. Tery made the kids wash their hands. Then she marched them to the school library. "Walk single file, like little ducks," she said. "And no quacking!" Bradley picked a book called Charlotte's Web. The cover showed a big spider hanging from its web and a girl with a pig in her arms. When it was almost time to go home, Ms. Tery told the kids they could read quietly for a few minutes. She walked around the room, checking out everyone's books. At Bradley's desk she stopped. "I love that book," she said. "But I really don't like spiders!" Ms. Tery rubbed her arms. "Spiders give me goose bumps!" A few minutes later the bell rang.

"Class dismissed!" Ms. Tery called out. "See you tomorrow!" The kids jumped out of their seats. Bradley nodded good-bye to Ms. Tery. He had a lump in his throat. Were they really going to spy on their teacher? Outside, Bradley, Brian, Nate, and Lucy hid behind some bushes on the side of the school. Ms. Tery would have to walk right past them. "What if she doesn't walk home?" Lucy asked. "What if she has a car?" "I never thought of that," Bradley said. They sat and waited. They heard teachers saying good-bye. They heard car doors slam and engines start. Bradley heard a bird call and looked up into the nearest tree. It was the same tree where the sneakers had been hanging. Only now they were gone. Suddenly his brother grabbed his arm. "She's coming!" Brian whispered. Ms. Tery loped past them, heading for Main Street. She carried a shopping bag with a picture of a kangaroo on the side.

"She's walking!" Bradley whispered. "I'll bet she carries the stuff she steals in that bag!" Nate said. "Or maybe it's filled with tiny sneakers," Brian offered.